By Andrew Grella
GENEVA, N.Y. — The Hornell Dodgers put even more space between first and second place in the Western Division with an 8-0 win over the Geneva Twins in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at McDonough Park, Friday night. The Dodgers scored early and often against the Twins. Hornell batted around in the first and the second against Nate Grant (St. Bonaventure) scoring seven total to put the Twins in a hole that the offense could not climb out of.
In the first, the Dodgers used five hits to plate four runners to jump out to an early 4-0 lead. Rayshelon Carolina (Monroe CC) led off the game with a single. He was retired on a fielder’s choice when Brandon Sandoval (Vanguard U) reached base. A throwing error by the shortstop on a Thad Johnson (St. Bonaventure U) ground ball allowed Sandoval to score all the way from first as Johnson moved to second base on the throw. Hank Morrison’s (Mercyhurst Col) single drove in Johnson in the second Dodgers run. After Morrison advanced to second on a steal, Spencer Scorza (Cornell U) continued the hit parade with a single of his own to drive in a run and make it 3-0 Hornell. Jordan Climpson (Cameron U) singled for the Dodgers third consecutive hit to make it first and third with one out. Jimmy Latona (Monroe CC) capped the inning driving in the fourth run of the first inning.
Hornell struck for three more runs in the top of the second inning. The Dodgers loaded the bases with one out in the inning. An RBI single by Spencer Scorza and two walks with the bases loaded made it 7-0 after just two innings of play in Geneva.
The Dodgers added another in the top of the sixth as Jimmy Latona drove in his second run of the ball game with a single up the middle. 8-0 would be the final score as Hornell completed the shutout.
Seth Cornell (Houghton Col) went eight strong innings for Hornell giving up only five hits while setting down five Twins on strikes as he won his sixth game of the season. Roberto Johnson (Vanguard U) came in to get the final three outs of the game.
One bright spot offensively for the Twins was David Oliger (Wabash Col) who had two hits in the game for Geneva. Cory Teachout (Ashland U) did a nice job in relief of Nate Grant as he came in and only gave up one run in six innings of relief.
The Dodgers (31-7) head home tomorrow to take on the Syracuse Jr. Chiefs in an inter divison matchup between the two teams. That game is set to start in Hornell at 7 pm. The Twins (23-15) host a double header against the Wellsville Nitros. Geneva will finish a continuation of a rain out starting at 10 am with game two to follow at 1 pm.
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